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Highway 4: Coombs to Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Photo: Scott Darbey from Canada · CC BY 2.0

Drives British Columbia Vancouver, the Sea-to-Sky and the BC Coast

Highway 4: Coombs to Tofino

BC 4, Alberni Highway, River Road · Coombs → Tofino

Sweeping100 mi2 hr 25 min5,600 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,400 ftOne way
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The drive

Highway 4 crosses Vancouver Island from Coombs to Tofino. It passes through Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park, the only highway-accessible protected old-growth Douglas-fir forest in the province, beside Cameron Lake. It climbs to a summit called The Hump, then descends to Port Alberni.

West of Port Alberni the road follows Sproat Lake, climbs over Sutton Pass, and winds down the Kennedy River with steep grades. It skirts Kennedy Lake, passes the Ucluelet junction and the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and ends in Tofino.

The 100 miles take about 2 hr 25 min.

Along the way

  1. Coombs
  2. Cathedral Grove
  3. Port Alberni
  4. Tofino
Elevation
5,600 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,400 ft
CoombsTofino
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
CoombsTofino
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Cathedral Grove has long had parking beside the narrow highway; take care with traffic.
  • The western half is winding and steep, with steep grades along the Kennedy River.
  • Parks Canada charges fees at beach parking lots in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
  • Maintenance work has caused short delays; check DriveBC.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check DriveBC.

Questions about this drive

How long does Highway 4 from Coombs to Tofino take?

Highway 4 from Coombs to Tofino is 100.3 miles and takes about 2 hr 25 min.

Is Highway 4 to Tofino a hard drive?

The western half is winding and steep, especially on the grade along the Kennedy River, so allow extra time.

Where is Cathedral Grove?

Cathedral Grove is in MacMillan Provincial Park on Highway 4 beside Cameron Lake, between Coombs and Port Alberni.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Highway 4: Coombs to Tofino, from Coombs to Tofino